That is the headline on espn.com insider ... I'm not a subscriber cuz I'm cheap. The headline implies, shall I dare say, a "White-Flag-like implication?

Anyone having access to espn insider, inquiring minds would like to know!

KruseControl04

06-28-2002, 06:08 PM

There's no way the Sox need to throw in the towel yet. We've still got a shot at this division. We've got a whole bunch of sub-.500 teams coming up on the schedule, all the Sox need to do is get on a roll, and we'll be back in this thing faster than a Shamme hop skip and jump.

Nick@Nite

06-28-2002, 06:18 PM

Originally posted by KruseControl04
There's no way the Sox need to throw in the towel yet. We've still got a shot at this division. We've got a whole bunch of sub-.500 teams coming up on the schedule, all the Sox need to do is get on a roll, and we'll be back in this thing faster than a Shamme hop skip and jump.

I agree... the Sox shouldn't throw in the towel, work stoppage or not.

I can't help but wonder what kind of gossip/innuendo/garbage is being spewed forth under that headline?

BTW ... what a refreshingly kick ass come-back win tonight! AWESOME!

Jerry_Manuel

06-28-2002, 06:26 PM

ESPN Insider is just news from newspapers. If anything it's some writers opinion that if the Sox don't win, guys will be dealt.

Jjav829

06-29-2002, 12:46 PM

Heres what it said, Nothing big...

Tribe cries uncle,
ChiSox next?

During the American Civil War, it was never a consideration that the Confederate army was going to overrun the states loyal to the Union. Its best bet for final victory came not from conquest but from making the continuation of the conflict unpalatable to the North. That, it seems, is also the goal of the Twins. With the Indians' trading of their ace starter Bartolo Colon to the Expos, one of Minnesota's competitors has certainly succumbed to the instinct that never overcame the North in that long ago conflict: They have thrown in the towel.

It is suspected that it won't take much more for the Twins' other competition in the division, Chicago, to do the same. In spite of Thursday's 7-4 loss, Dan Barreiro of the Minneapolis Star Tribune believes the Twins have, by splitting their four-game set with the White Sox, gone a long way toward making the division their own. The White Sox have proven in the past that they are capable of bailing out of a race early by trading their players in the midst of what most people would consider to be a pennant race. In 1997, the Sox traded Roberto Hernandez to the Giants while still seemingly hot on the trail of the Indians. Owner Jerry Reinsdorf came under intense fire for that move, but many believe he is capable of doing such things again.

So, how over is the divisional race really? Although six-game deficits are difficult to overcome, they are by no means impossible. And it is not like the Twins are without flaws. As Barreiro points out, Minnesota has succeeded to this point without a lot of positive input from its starting pitchers:

Brad Radke: Had been an absolute rock in terms of durability since coming to the majors in 1995. He has missed a number of starts this year and his ERA of 5.23 is easily his worst since his rookie season.

Eric Milton: At 5.56, he is also in danger of posting his worst ERA since his rookie year.

Rick Reed: A 4.80 ERA just about makes him the ace among starters.

Joe Mays: Has spent most of the season on the shelf but hopes to be back in about two weeks.

Matt Kinney: Has the lowest ERA among Twins who have started at least 10 games, 4.35. That figure comes with some bit of good fortune, however, as he has allowed 1.5 base runners per inning.

Kyle Lohse: Another in the plus-five ERA club. It is a testament to the Twins' bullpen that every one of their starting pitchers save for Kinney has an ERA higher than that of the team's. While it may be possible to walk away with a weak and white flag-waving division with this manner of starting pitching, how well can one expect to do in the post season with this kind of approach?